§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what is the total cost of each of the sittings of the Scottish Grand Committee held in Scotland during this Parliament; and what is the estimated cost of the future sittings in Scotland planned in this parliamentary Session for(a) room hire, (b) accommodation for parliamentary staff, (c) travel for parliamentary staff, (d) equipment transport costs and (e) other costs. [17770]
§ Mr. BeithThe costs to date of the six meetings of the Scottish Grand Committee held this Session are given in the table. These figures have been produced by a manual clerical check since costings have hitherto not been analysed to individual meetings. It is also the case that these figures are not the final costs as there are still some invoices and claims outstanding. Excluded from these figures are staff overtime, hire of telephone lines and Members' travel. Estimates are not produced in detail for each visit but the forecast for each meeting was expected to be approximately £8,500. The estimate for the seven future meetings planned up until the 8 July is £59,500.
667W
Location Meeting date Room hire £ Travel and accommodation for staff £ Equipment provision and transport2 £ Other costs1 £ Total £ Edinburgh 15 January 1996 — 6,941 411 2,188 9,540 Stirling 29 January 1996 — 1,970 1,569 350 3,888 Inverness 5 February 1996 — 3,298 — — 3,298 Aberdeen 19 February 1996 — 1,650 — — 1,650 1 Staff travel and accommodation costs are not separately analysed in the accounting system. 2 The cost of providing recording equipment, transport is included. 3 Includes security and refreshments.
§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what has been the cost of each meeting of the Scottish Grand Committee in the current Session to date; and what is the estimated cost of each of those planned for the remainder of the Session. [12960]
§ Mr. Beith[pursuant to his reply, 26 February 1996, c. 337–38]: I am now able to give the hon. Member, in the table, the following information about the six meetings of
Location Meeting date Room hire £ Travel and accommodation for staff1 £ Equipment provision and transport2 £ Other costs3 £ Total £ Edinburgh 11 December 1995 713 4,210 1,571 699 7,192 Glasgow 18 December 1995 — 4,166 411 — 4,578 Edinburgh 15 January 1996 — 6,941 411 2,188 9,540 Stirling 29 January 1996 — 1,970 1,569 350 3,888 Inverness 5 February 1996 — 3,298 — — 3,298 Aberdeen 19 February 1996 — 1,650 — — 1,650 1 Staff travel and accommodation costs are not separately analysed in the accounting system. 2 The cost of providing recording equipment, transport is included. 3 Includes security and refreshments.